Automatic changing mechanism for disk records



Jan. 30, 1940. A. R. DOWNS AUTOMATIC CHANGING MECHANISM FORDISK RECORDSFiled Oct. 1, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arrows/[rs Jan. 30, 1940.

A. DOWNS ,188,769

AU'I'QMATIC CHANGINGMECHANISM FOR DISK RECCRDS H Filed Oct. 1, 1957 5Sheets-Shee 2 m m V N Jan. 30, 1940. v A. R. DOWNS AUTOMATIC CHANGINGMECHANISM FOR msx nmconns 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 1, 1937 Jan. 30,1940. A. R. DOWNS v' 2,188,769

AUTOMATIC CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORDS Filed Oct. 1, 1937 5Sheets-Sheet 4 c Q R 12 a a INVEN TOR ATTOR 5Y5- Jan. 30, 1940. A. R;DOWNS AUTOMATIC CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORDS Filed Oct. 1, 1957 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE-AUTOMATIC CHANGING MECHANISM FOR DISK RECORDS British companyApplication October 1,

- 1937, Serial No.,166, 893

In Great Britain October 3, 1936 11 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic mechanism for use in connection withgramophones for turning over each record after one side has been played.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an automatic mechanismwhich will remove the record from the playing position, turn it overafter removal and then replace it so that the opposite side may beplayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic mechanismwhich will, in addition to turning over the record and replacing it forfurther playing, finally remove the played record .from the playingposition and discharge it, preferably into a'receptacle provided for itsreception.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic mechanismwhich will deliver, preferably by gravity, one record at a time from astorage magazine onto the turntable for playing, and

which, when one side has been played, will remove it from the turntable,reverse it, replace it reverse side up on the turntable and, if desired,finally remove the played record and discharge it into a receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic mechanismwhich will frictionally grip the record by its centre hole, remove itfrom the turntable, reverse it whilst so engaged and replace it reverseside up on the turntable.

t A further object of the invention is to provide automatic mechanism asin any of the preceding paragraphs in which means are provided forlifting the record off the turntable to engage it with the grippingmeans by lowering the record into engagement with said gripping meansand/or by pushing the same upwards into the engaging position.

Other objects will appeanfrom the following description and theappendant claims.

derstood and carried into effect apparatus ac cording to one embodimentof the same will now be described, by way of example, by aid of theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, showing the parts of the mechanism.which appear above the motorboard and including, in addition. to theturntable and the receptacle for played records, means for stacking therecords to be played and 50 for delivering the same by gravity one at atime -to the turntable, means for gripping, removing,

reversing, replacing and rejecting each record and the means for liftingthe record from the turntable preparatory to its engagement by the 56gripping means.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the mechanism both above and belowthe motorboard.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the turntable removed.

Fig. 4 is an underside or inverted plan view.

- Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional perspective views of details hereafter tobe referred to.

' In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the mechanism forperforming the functions of v changing and reversing the recordsislocated above the motorboard whilst the motor driven operating mechanismfor controlling aiitomatically the performance of such functions islocated below the motorboard.

In the present specification the description of the illustratedapparatus will be divided into two parts; in the first part will bedescribed the functions and necessary details of construction of themechanism which is above the motorboard, whilst in the second part will"be described the construction and operation of the operating mechanismbelow themotorboard and its operative association with the mechanismabove the motorboard.

Changing reversing mechanism This broadly comprises (1) the means forstoring the records to be played and for delivering the same one at atime to the gramophone turntable and (2) the means for reversing eachrecord and for discharging the same both automatically in the normalseries of operations and prematurely by predetermination on the part ofthe operator.

Referring now'to the drawings I indicates the usual motor driventurntable on which the records are played, 2 the receptacle for playedrecords and 3 the swinging arm which eflects both the reversal of eachrecord and its removal from the turntable to a position above thereceptacle 2.

The records selected for playing are supported in spaced relationship inthe form of a column above. the turntable onto which they are permittedto fall one by one for playing. The means shown for this purposecomprise a series of vanes 4 each movable independently of the other andarranged as two columns on opposite sides of the turntable, each columncontaining an equal number of vanes. By this arrangement the vanes inthe two' columns form opposing pairs, each pair serving for the supportof a single record.

Alignmentof the records one above the other and with their central holesdirectly above the. projecting end of the motor spindle 5 in thecentreof the turntable is ensured by means of 9. depending pin 6 which, in theexample illustrated 2 is shown as being supported above the turntable bya cross-bar I. The vanes in each column are mounted to turn about avertical pivot pin 8, see Fig. 5, and they are supported in parallelspaced 5 relationship by a slotted standard 9 co-axial with the pivotpin 8 and by corresponding slots in a vertical tubular casing II). Thereis thus provided a two point support for each vane which is suflicientto enable each vane to support its pro- 10 portion of the weight of arecord without bending.

The records are released for playing one at a time automatically fromthe lowest upwards "by the removal of each pair of supporting vanes.This is effected in the example illustrated by imparting simultaneously.a lateral swinging movement to thevanes in each pair by means comprisinga crescent shaped striker I I, mounted at the upper end of a rod l2.This rod is adapted to receive a step by step vertical lift to bring thelong side of the striker into registration with the stem of each vane inturn and a turning motion to cause the striker to displace the selectedvane from its supporting position beneath a record.

These movements are imparted respectively through the medium ofrackteeth l3 on the rod l2 and an oscillating lever M which engages in a 7vertical groove IS in the rod l2 by. means of a pin IS. The furtheractions of these operating means will be described hereafter inconnection 0 with the-mechanism which is disposed below the motorboard.

An opposite movement is imparted to the striker to reposition each pairof vanes when loading ,up with records by means of a hand oper- 35 atedknob H, see Fig. 1.

The means for reversing each record and for transferring the same fromthe turntable to a position above the receptacle 2 comprises an arm 3.This arm in the example illustrated, is made 40 from fiat material whichat itsouter end is shaped to provide an extended supporting surface l8to prevent tilting of an engaged record and at its inner end terminatesin a spindle I811. Fig. 6 for rotatable support in bearings on oppositesides *45 of a vertical casing member IS.

The rotary movement of the arm 3 is about its own axis and such movementis imparted by {means of a rack 20 at the upper end of a pull rod 21 anda pinion 22 mounted upon'the spindle 50 l8a of the arm intermediate theaforesaid bearings supports.

I Sufficient vertical movement is imparted to the rack in .bothdirections as will turn the arm completely over on one movement of therack and 55 back again on the opposite movement. This vertical movementof the'rack is imparted through a lever 23 one end of which is slottedfor engagement with opposite sides of afoot 24 on the lower end of thepull rod 2|. This form of connection 9 permits the pull rod and foot torotate with the.

casing member l9 relatively to the lever 23. The swinging'of the arm' 3is efiected through a corresponding motion which is imparted to thecasing member l9. For this purpose the casing 66 member is formed orprovided with a depending sleeve 25 and the motion required'is impartedto the sleeve by the action of a pull rod .26 on an arm 21 forming partof said sleeve. This turning motion of the casing'member is resisted bya 10 pull spring 28 which serves to return the casing member to aposition where the arm 3 is above the receptacle 2.

Each record is intended to be gripped by an engagement with its centralhole and for-this 1 purpose it is proposed to use in the exampleillustrated, a gripper consisting of two segmental portions 29 and 30'constituting together an ex-'.

pansible pin. These portions 29 and 30 are disposed centrally of theenlarged supporting surface l8 at the outer end 'ofthe-ann t" so as toproject therefrom, the near portion 29 being fixed and the outer portion30 being made movable relatively to the fixed portion to produceexpansion and contraction of the gripper according to whether the recordis to beheld or released.

Relative movement of the portion 30 in a direction towards the otherportion 29 is effected by v mounting the same upon the outer end of apull rod 3| the inner end of which enters the interior of the casingmember I9. vMounted upon this inner end is a crescent shaped plate 32behind which engages the upper end of the vertical arm of a bell cranklever 33, the other or horizontal arm of such lever engaging the upperend of a spindle 345. This spindle passes through'and is slidable withinthe sleeve 25 and at its lower end it is provided with a shoulder 34awhich is engagedby the forked arm of a further bell crank lever 35.

In operation a downward pull imparted to the spindle 34 produces inwardmovement of the vertical arm of the bell crank lever and correspondingretraction of the portion 30 of the gripper. This inward movement of theportion 30 is moved into engagement with each positioned record and whenit has reached the run-off groove at the central portion of the recordto be lifted and swung back out of the playing position whilst therecord is either being turned over and replaced or a fresh record isbeing positioned. All such movements are effected automatically in amanner hereafter to be described.

' To vary the inward movement of the pick-up or tone arm to enable thesame correctly to engage difierent sized records a gauging arm 39 isprovided. which projects above the motor board to engage the edge of apositioned record and feel the size of the same.

In operation a record is first placed in position so as to rest partlyupon the turntable and partly upon the gauging arm 39. The remainingrecords are then arranged in a column above the turntable by positioningthe same one at a timeupon the ascending pairs of vanes 4, correctlocation being 'efiected by threading the same upon the spindle 6.

Upon starting up the motor the gauging arm will be moved out frombeneath the record, which then falls into place upon the turntable andwill feel" the size of the record. The pick-up or tone arm will then bepositioned on the record and reproduction will commence.

When one side of a positioned record has been played the pick-up will belifted and swung back to the non-playing position. The record will thenbe lifted by upward movement of the rests 31 and the arm 3 will beswung-into position beneath it with the grippers in the closed positionand projecting upwards. The rests 31 will then 7 -over the turntable.

- above described operations.

grippers then expand and the arm swings out-' wards until the record isabove the opening in the motor board communicating with the receptacle2. The arm then rotates through 180 and reverses the record. It thenswings back to the playing position and brings the reversed records Thegrippers then contract and the record falls onto the raised rests whichthen descend and lower the record onto the turntable. The pick-up thenmoves into the playing position once more and the newly positioned sideof the record is played;

During the playing of this reverse side of the record the arm 3 remainsin the playing position with the grippers inverted. When therefore thesecond side of the record has been played it is lifted from theturntable by the raising of the rests 31 and positively pushed over thedepending grippers which then expand. The arm, with the engaged recordis then swung over the receptacle 2 when the grippers contract,releasing the record, which falls flat into the receptacle.

In the meantime the next pair of vanes in the series turn to deposittheir record on the raised rests 31 which then descend and so lower therecord onto the turntable for a repetition of the These continue untilall the stored records have been played or until the motor is switchedofi.

The mechanism beneath the'motor board and hereinafter termed-theoperating mechanism is operated by means of cams carried by a cam drum4| which is driven through gearing by the gramophone motor 42, a clutch,not shown, beingrecords are being played, and restarted when a record isto be reversed or removed.

This clutch is adapted tov be operated automatically, by meanshereinafter described, during the normal sequence of operations of thegramophone or manually by 'means of a clutch lever 40 to set theoperating mechanism running when it is desired to effect rejection of arecord during or prior to its reproduction or after reversal.

The automatic operation of the clutch is effected when the playing ofone side of a record has been completed the clutch being engagedautomatically to start the operatingmechanism by means of a lever system43, situated beneath the turntable on the upper surface of themotorboard and operatively associated with the pick up arm,

the arrangement being such that as the pick up arm moves across therecord the levers 43 are so moved that one of them is caused to approacha projection 44 carried by and rotating with the motor spindle 5. Whenthe tone arm reaches the limit of its inward movement the projection 4.4engages the adjacent lever of the system thereby imparting movement tothe same such movement being transmitted through suitable mechanism, notshown, to the clutch. 4

Assuming that the magazine is empty both sets of vanes are in theirextreme outward position.

be rotated either in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

The knob 11 is provided with a vertical pivot pin 45 which passes downthrough the motor board and at its lower end is attached a segmentalmember 46 and an operating member 41.- To effect the inward movement ofthe vanes when loading and assuming the knob is in its intermediateposition then by turning it in an anticlockwise direction see Fig. 4,the members 46 and 41 will be rotated'correspondingly. During with a pin48 projecting downwardly from the underside of one arm of a bell cranklever 49.

The other arm of which is adapted to be engaged by a cam on the cam drumto effect automatic operation of this lever when unloading the magazineas mentioned later. This'lever is pivotally mounted by one end to themotor casing, and as a consequence of the engagement of its pin 48 withthe operating member 41 continued movement of this member causes thelever to turn about its pivot. Connected with one arm of the lever 49 isone end of a link 50 the other end of the link being connected to theoscillating lever l4. Thus when the lever 49 is turned about its pivot,the oscillating lever I4 is rotated by the link 50 this rotation beingimparted to the rod l2 by the pin l6 and slot I5. When the knob isturned back to its original position the member 46 will engage the lever49 and return it to its first position thereby setting the striker backin its original position in readiness for the next pair of vanes.

As both vanes 4 of a pair must be rotated in synchronism the movement ofthe lever is transmitted to a further oscillating lever l4 associatedwith a further rod I! on the other side of the turntable through afurther link 5! one By this means a turning movement is impartedsimultaneously to each rod l2 effecting simultaneously inward movementof corresponding vanes in each column.

After each pair of vanes 41 is turned inwards the rods I2 have to beraised to bring the striker it into registration with the stem of thenext pair of vanes.

This raising of eachrod I2 is effected by levers 56 one being associatedwith each rod 12.

Each lever 56 is provided with a tooth shaped end 55 which is adapted tobe brought into an gagement with the teeth It of the associated rod 12and when in engagement is given a lifting movement to raise the rod 12the desired amount and finally to be withdrawn in readiness for the nextlifting movement.

These movements are obtained by pivotallymounting the levers 56 by means01' apin and slot mounting 51 to brackets 58 which depend from theunderside of the motor board, the pivotal 01' the associated rod|2,,whilst the same is free to simultaneously be turned in such adirection about this pivot to cause the shaped end to be raised orlowered. 4

The movements of each lever 56 are obtained through a pin and slotconnection, the pin 58a .mounting so provided permitting'the lever to bemoved to and fro to effect engagement and disengagement of the shapedend 55 with the teeth of which projects from the rear end of each 6parts to their normal position when the cam relever 56, the slot beingformed in a crank 59 attached so as to turn with a shaft 60. When theshaft 60 is rotated the cranks 59 move likewise and impart through thepin and slot connection a forward and upward motion of. the shaped ends55, and when rotated in the opposite direction the shaped ends 55 aremoved outwards and downwards.

Rotation of the shaft 60 is effected by a further crank 6| which isconnected toone end of a pull rod 62 the other end of such pull rodbeing coupled to a rocking lever 63 which is operated by a 'member 65attached to pin 45 of the knob [1. Accordingly when the knob I1 isrotated the member 65 engages the lever 63 in advance of the engagementbetween 41 and 48 and such lever swings in a direction which causes thecrank 6| to rotate thereby efi'ecting the desired movements of thelevers 56 through the shaft 60. A return spring is provided to returnthe shaft to. its normal position when the knob I1 is turned so that themember 65 releases the lever 63.

In order that the rods i2 remain in a raised position, spring ratchets84 are provided which engage the teeth of the rods and hold the same ineach raised position.

All the above operations are effected manually by turning the knob I!from its intermediate position in a clockwise direction, and when thelimit of travel in this direction is reached the knob is turned in theopposite direction until it again reaches the intermediate position inreadiness for a repetition of the above as loading continues.

When the magazine has been completely filled, the rods 12 are at theiruppermost position, and they must therefore be returned to theirlowermost position to bring the striker into registration with the stemsof the lowermost pair of vanes 4 in readiness to operate them to releasea record to be positioned on the turntable.

This downward movement of the rods is effected by turning the knob Hfrom its intermediate position past the ball catch in a clockwisedirection, see Fig. 4. During this rotation of the knob the member 65attached to the lower end of the pin 45 engages the end 66 of therocking lever 63 such lever thereby again being operated to cause theshaft 60 to be rotated. The amount of rotation in this instance issuflicient to cause the levers 56 to turn about the pin 51 an amountsufficient to cause projections 55a on such levers to move downwardlyand engage projection 64a of the ratchets B4 to depress the same andcause each ratchet .to turn about its pivot 64b and disengage. from theteeth of the rods [2.

The above pivoted movement of the levers 5B is sufllcient to cause themembers 55 on the levers 56 to disengage with the teeth of the rods l2such disengagement being simultaneous with the above disengagement ofthe ratchets.

During playing unloading of the magazine is effected automatically andfor this purpose the rotary movement and also the upward movement of,the rods I2 are efiected by cams on the cam drum 4|. I

The automatic rotary movement of the rods I2 is obtained by a cam, notshown, on 'the cam drum 4| which cam engages the free arm of the bellcrank lever 49 and moves the same in such a direction that the other armswings in the correct direction to impart the desired rotary movement tothe rods l2 through the associated pull rods and levers.

Pull springs are provided to return the various leases'the armof thebell crank lever.

The step by step upward movement ofv the rods I2 is obtained as beforethrough the'shaft 50, rotation of which in. the desired direction isob-' tained through a crank Gla mounted on such shaft, the freeend ofthis crank being connected to a pull rod 62a, the other end of which iscoupled to one end of a rocking lever 63a. This rocking lever ispivotally mounted by its other end on the motor board and is engagedintermediate its length by a cam carried by the cam drum, engagement ofthe cam with this lever causing such lever to swing in a direction toimpart through the pull rod 6211 the required movement of the shaft 60.

Record reversing mechanism 7 The rotary movement of the swinging arm 33is obtained asstated through the medium of a 'rack 20 pinion 22 and pullrod 2| suflicient vertical movement being imparted to the rack by Theother arm of the bell crank lever is coupled to a pull rod 61 the otherend of the pull rod being attached to a rocking lever 68 which isoperated by a cam on the cam drum.

The operation of the pull rod 26 which imparts through the arm 21,swinging movement to the arm 3, is effected by coupling the free end ofthe pull rod to one end of a rocking lever 69 which is pivotally mountedat its other end on the motor board and is engageable intermediate itslength by a cam carried by the cam drum. 7

Retraction of the portion 30 of the gripper is effected as statedpreviously by the downward movement of the spindle 34, this movementbeing obtained by the operation of the bell crank lever 35 one arm ofwhich engages with the lower end of the spindle 34.

The movement of the bell crank lever 35 is obtained through the mediumof a pull rod 10 one end of which is connected to the other arm of thebell crank lever whilst the other end of the pull.

rod is coupled to a rockinglever ll adapted tobe operated by anassociated cam carried by the cam drum.

Record raising mechanism fected by reverse rotation of the shaft.

Pick-up operating mechanism The pick-up or tone arm is mounted inbearings on a standard and is adapted to be swung into and out ofengagement with a positioned record. 3

To effect this operation, the pick up is attached to the upper end of avertical spindle I3.

This spindle passes through the motorboard,

- vertical spindle.

11 pivotally mounted by one end at 18 on the "motorboard. 1 Normallythis lever 17 is held in a retracted position by. a co-operating camsurface on the cam drum, but when the pick-up or tone arm is to bebrought into engagement with a positioned record, the lever leaves thecam surface and is pulled by the spring into a cam slot provided for thepurpose in the drum as it rotates.

This causes the end 18 of this lever to move to the left (see Fig. 4)and this in turn imparts a sliding motion, in a similar direction, to afurther lever 80, one end of which is attached to the end i 19 of thelever 18, whilst" the other end is attached to a crank 8| pivotallymounted on the motor-' board.

The sliding motion of the lever 80 is translated into a rotary movementof the pick-up or tone arm through a short arm 82 which although notshown on the drawing is attached to the lower end of the verticalspindle I3, the arm being caused to turn in the appropriate directionthrough the medium of a pin 83 projecting down from the arm and engaginga hook shaped projection 830. formed on the sliding lever 80, To varythe position of the projection 83 on the lever 80 to accommodate recordsof various sizes the pivot pin of the crank 8| has attached to it afurther crank which is operated to rotate the crank 8| and therebyposition the sliding lever 80, by the gauging arm 39. The upper end ofthis gauging arm projects above the motorboard and is provided with apad which engages the record edge and thus feels" the size of apositioned record.

Thelower end of the gauging arm projects below the motor ,board and iscoupled, as above stated, by a lever to the crank pivot pin. of thecrank 8|. I

By this means the position of the gauging arm determines automaticallythe amount by which the pick-up is swung into the playingposition.

This. arm is adapted to be swung clear of the' record edge duringplaying.

To permit the pick-up or sound box on the outer end of the pick-up ortone arm to be raised from the playing surface of the record this arm isgiven a vertical movement as well as a horizontal swinging movement forwhich purpose the arm is mounted in horizontal pivots.

The raising movement is effected by imparting a downward movement to thevertical spindle 13 the upper end of which is attached as stated to thearm near its rear end. a

The downward motion of the vertical spindle "13 is effected by a bellcrank lever 84 which is .pivotally mounted on the motor board, one armbeing forked to engage a collar or shoulder 85 attached to or formingpart of the lower end of the spindle 13. When the bell crank 84 isturned about its pivot the forked arm engagesthe collar or shoulder andforces it in a downward direction, a similar motion therefore beingimparted to the The turning movement of the bell crank lever 84 iseflected by a rocking lever 86,v one end of which is pivotally mountedon the underside of the motor board, the other end engaging the free armof the bell crank lever. The rocking lever is operated by an associatedcam which engages one end of-said lever the cam being carried by theaforesaid cam drum. The pick-up is lowered onto therecord surface attheappropriate time by gravity as the cam releases the rocking lever 88.

What I claim is: I

1. In a gramophone having a turntable adapted to carry a disk record, incombination, an arm mounted adjacent the turntable for swinging movementin a horizontal plane thereabove, and a turning movement about an axisextending in its own plane, and a record engaging member on the armmeans operatively connected with the arm and record engaging member, andrespectively actuable after a record on the turntable has been played onone side, to swing the arm towards and to a position above the turntableto actuate the record engaging member on the arm for engagement with theplayed record, to swing the arm carrying the engaged record away fromthe turntable, to turn the arm about its axis to reverse the engagedrecord, to swing the arm carrying the reversed record to return the sameto a position above the turntable, and to release the record engagingmember on, the arm from engagement with the reversed record for depositonto the turntable for further playing.

2. In a gramophone having a turntable adapt ed to carry a disk record,in combination, an arm mounted adjacent the turntable for a swingingmovement in a horizontal plane thereabove and a turning movement aboutan axis extending in its own plane, a gripper carried on the arm, andmeans operatively connected with the arm andgripper and respectivelyactuable after a record on the turntable has been played on one side, toswing the arm towards and to a position above the turntable, to actuatethe gripper on the arm for engaging the record, to swing the armcarrying the engaged record away from the turntable, to turn the armcarrying the engaged record about its axis for reversing the record, toswing the arm carrying the reversed record to return the same to aposition above the turntable, and to release the gripper from engagementwith the reversed record for deposit onto the turntable for furtherplaying.

3. In a gramophone having a turntable adapted to carrya disk record, incombination, an arm mounted adjacent the turntable for a swingingmovement in a horizontal plane thereabove and a turning movement aboutan axis extending in its own plane, a record engaging member on the arm,an elevator mounted adjacent the turntable for raising and loweringmovement, and means operatively connected with the arm, record engagingmember and the elevator, and

' respectively actuable after a record on the turntable has been played.on one side, to raise the elevator to lift the played record from theturntable, and support the same in a position thereabove, to swing therecord engaging arm towards and to a position above the turntable, toactuate the arm for engagement with the supported record, to swing thearm carrying the engaged record away from the turntable, to turn the armabout its axis for reversing the engaged record, to swing the armcarrying the reversed record to. a osition above the turntable, and

to release the record engaging member on the arm from engagement withthe reversed record for deposit onto the turntable for further playing.

4. In agramophone having a turntable adapted to carrya disk record, incombination, an arm mounted adjacent the turntable for swinging movementin a horizontal plane thereabove and a turning movement about an axisextending in its own plane, a gripper carried on the arm, an elevatormounted adjacent the turntable for raising and lowering movement, andmeans operatively connected with the' arm, the gripper, and theelevator, after a record on the turntable has been played on one sideand respectively actuable, to raise the elevator to lift the playedrecordfrom the turntable, to a position thereabove, to swing the armtowards and to a position above the turntable, to actuate the gripperfor engaging the lifted record, to swing the arm carrying the engagedrecord away from the turntable, to turn the arm about its axis forreversing the engaged record, to swing the arm carrying the reversedrecord to return the same to a position above the turntable, and torelease the gripper from engagement with the reversed record fordepositing the same onto the turntable for further playing.

51 In a gramophone having a turntable adapted to carry a disk record, incombination, an arm mounted adjacent the turntable for movement towardsand away from the turntable and for a turning movement about an axisextending in a horizontal plane thereabove, a record engaging member onthe arm, an elevator mounted adjacent the periphery of the turntable forraising and lowering movement, and means operatively connected with thearm, record engaging member and elevator after a record on the turntablehas been played on one side, and respectively actuable to raise theelevator to lift the played record from the turntable and support thesame at a position thereabove, to move the arm under the recordsupported on the elevator, to lower the elevator to deposit thesupported record onto the arm, to actuate the record engaging member onthe arm for engagement with the record to turn the arm carrying thedeposited record about its axis to reverse the record, and to releasethe record engaging member on arm from engagement with the reversedrecord for deposit onto the turntable for further been played on oneside; and respectively actuable to raise the elevator to lift the playedrecord from the turntable and support the same at apositlon thereabove,to move the arm under the record supported on the elevator, to lower theelevator to deposit the supported record onto the arm, to actuate thegripper to engage the record deposited on the arm, to turn the armcarrying the gripped record about itsaxis to reverse the record, and torelease the gripper from engagement with the record to deposit thereleased record onto the turntable for further playing.

7. In a gramophone having a turntable adapttion thereabove, to swing thearm under the record supported on the elevator, to lower the elevator todeposit the record onto the arm, to actuate the record engaging memberon the arm for engagement with the record to swing the arm carrying thedeposited and engaged record away from the turntable, to turn the armabout its axis to reverse the record, to

swing the arm carrying the reversed record to return the same to aposition above the turntable and to release the record engaging memberon the arm from engagement with the reversed record for deposit onto theturntable for further playing.

8. In a gramophone having a turntable adapted to carry a disk record incombination, an

arm mounted adjacent the turntable for a swinging movement in ahorizontal plane thereabove and a turning movement about an axisextending in its own plane, a gripper carried on the arm, an elevatormounted for raising and lowering movement, and means operativelyconncted with the. arm, the gripper, and the elevator after a record onthe turntable 'has been played on one side; and respectively actuable toraise the elevator to lift the played record from the turntable andsupport the same at,

a position thereabove, to swing the arm under the record supported onthe elevator, to lower the elevator, to deposit the record onto the arm,to actuate the gripper for engaging the deposited record on the arm, toswing the arm carrying the engaged record away from the turntable, toturn the arm about its axis for reversing the record, .to' swing the armcarrying the reversed record to return the same to a position above theturntable, and to release the gripper from engagement with the reversedrecord for deposit onto the turntable for further playing.

9. In a gramophone having a turntable adapted to carry a disk record, incombination, an

arm mounted adjacent the turntable for a swinging movement in ahorizontal plane thereabove and a turning movement about an axisextending in its own plane, a record engaging member on the arm, anelevator mounted for raising and lowering movement, and meansoperatively connected with the arm record engaging member and elevatorand respectively actuable after a record on the turntable has beenplayed on one side; to raise the elevator to lift therecord from theturntable and support the same at a position thereabove, to swing thearm under the record supported-on the elevator, to' lower the elevatorto deposit the record onto the arm,

to actuate the record engaging member on the;

arm for engagement with the deposited record to swing the armcarrying'the deposited and engaged record away from the turntable, toturnthe arm about its axis to reverse the record,

to return the same to a position above the turntable, and to releasetherecord engaging member on the arm from engagement with the reversedrecord for deposit onto the turntable for further playing; and a controlmember operatively connected with the aforesaid means for cyclicallyactuating the same.

' 10. In a gramophone having a turntable adapted to carry a disk recordin combination, an arm mounted adjacent the turntable fora swingingmovement in a horizontal plane thereabove and a turning movement aboutan axis extending in its own plane, a gripper carried on the arm, anelevator mounted for raising and lowering movement, and meansoperatively connected with the arm, gripper and elevator t andrespectively actuable by the control member after a record on theturntable has been played on one side, to raise the elevator to lift theplayed record from the turntable and support the same at a positionthereabove, to swing the arm under the record supported on the elevator,to-lower the elevator, to deposit the record onto the arm, to actuatethe gripper for gripper from engagement with thereversed rec-' ord fordeposit onto the turntable for further playing.

11. In a gramophone having a turntable adapted to carry a disk record incombination, an arm mounted adjacent the turntable for a swingingmovement in a horizontal plane thereabove and a turning movement aboutan axis extending in its own plane, a gripper carried on the arm, anelevator mounted for raising and lowering movement, and meansoperatively connected with the arm, gripper and elevator.

the gripper for engaging the deposited record on the arm, to swing thearm carrying the en-' gaged record away from the turntable, to turn thearm about its axis for reversing the record, to swing the arm carryingthe reversed record to return the same to a position above, theturntable, to release the gripper from engagement with the reversedrecord for deposit onto the turntable for further playing; saidmeansbeing further actuable after the record on the turntable has beenplayed on the reversed side; to raise the elevator to lift the thusplayed record and support the same under the arm, to actuate .thegripper for engaging the thus supported the gripper from engagement withthe record for rejection.

ARTHUR ROBERT

